Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City authorities to restrict or ban the use of motorbikes on certain streets during certain hours as soon as possible, newswire VnExpress reported.

The two municipal governments should work with relevant agencies to issue the ban as a pilot project, which will be implemented in other provinces and cities nationwide once it proves effective, Phuc said at a meeting with the National Traffic Safety Committee on Wednesday.

He also asked for stronger penalties to be levied against motorists with no helmets, those who drink before driving and street racers.

The Ministry of Public Security must work with relevant agencies to prevent corruption during the drivers license issuing process and vehicle registration, he said. He also asked the ministry to punish police officers who receive bribes.

The government recently issued a resolution in which it asked the Transport Ministry to draft a plan restricting the circulation of motorcycles in major cities to curb the country's worsening traffic problem.